Things you didn't know about Downey: Charlotte Austin

Does the name of Charlotte Titsworth Austin sound familiar?

She was one of the 305 women originally accepted into the US Marine Corps in 1918. She was honored with a medal presentation at 10:30 am on April 22, 1994 at the Downey Community Health Center. The Veterans Affairs Regional Los Angeles Director Henry Gresham and members of his staff presented to Austin a certificate of recognition from the VA, as well as a World War I medal which was issued by the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation.

Mrs. Austin distinguished herself during four years of active military service with the Marine Corps, then went on to a long and distinguished career with the VA until her retirement as assistant loan guarantee officer at the VARO in Los Angeles in 1968 at the age of 70. She was also active for many years with many veterans service groups.

Attending the ceremony was her son, Bob Austin, of Downey, Mayor Bob Brazelton of Downey, and several representatives from congressional offices. Bob told the Downey Eagle his mother spent most of her time while on active duty in Washington, D.C. The military deemed her too young to be sent overseas at that time. Bob said after her tour of duty, his mother was very active in veterans groups, particularly the Women’s Marine Veterans which was formed following World War II.

Mrs. Austin was 95 years old at the presentation award and refreshments were served as a small band ensemble played from Lakeside Junior High.

We can be very proud of the service veterans that Downey had in our wars.

Thanks to John Adams and his series, “The Time Traveler,” for the story.

News Doesn’t Change

Many old newspapers reflect events that are happening today. Names may change but events are similar.

A Los Angeles Evening Express that was uncovered during the demolition of a Downey church was turned over to the Downey Historical Society as a model. The newspaper dated April 26, 1930 was found by workers for a construction company who were working on the foundation of Our Lady of Perpetual Church in 1991.

The paper had sports, crime, politics, immigration and ship departures. The Evening Express claimed to be the oldest daily newspaper in Los Angeles with a founding date of March 27, 1871.

In looking over the headlines of the old newspaper, if you knew history, the famous names would keap out to anyone with a taste for the past:

“Mayor Jimmy Walker of New York confined to home with what his doctors describe as complete physical and mental breakdown.”

“Capone’s kin face prison” (Big Al’s brother had been convicted of tax fraud).

Another article claimed home building in Los Angeles to be second fastest in the nation. One page carried an in-depth study of the problem of admitting seasonal Mexican labor into the U.S.

Sports pages glittered with a story on how former USC grid star Fay Thomas was slated to pitch baseball that day for the Sacramento Solons who were playing Los Angeles.

The Evening Express was big on sea arrivals and departures. San Pedro was a beehive of activity. Departures included the North German Lloyd Liner SS Columbus with 348 on board, 137 of whom were going to Europe.

There wasn’t a hint in the Los Angeles of 1930 that another World War was in the offing. Pearl Harbor was just a point which ships arrived.

Most poignant of all and most meaningful was a story on how one loses identity in the U.S. Census. The thought that residents of Los Angeles became mere numbers through the census count. Like some of the complaints of today.

Bobbi Bruce is a docent with the Downey Historical Society.